Statement on DACA

07 Sep Statement on DACA

Earlier today, the Trump Administration announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be rescinded, opening hundreds of thousands of young people to detention and deportation. The New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA) vehemently condemns this decision.

In the coming weeks and months, NYSCASA will work to protect undocumented youth from harm and further violence. NYSCASA commits itself to leading the state’s rape crisis programs in supporting undocumented youth in accessing education, safe communities, and a life free from all violence.

In our college work, we commit to providing training to rape crisis center advocates on the needs of undocumented youth and developing identity specific resources for student clients engaged in the Title IX process. It is imperative that fear does not prevent undocumented students from reporting sexual violence at our universities. We also commit to working with universities across the state in developing policies that protect undocumented students and preserve their access to education.

In our Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) work, we commit to connecting and training community based service providers with any and all facilities that house incarcerated people, including ICE run facilities and immigration detention centers. Sexual abuse is committed more frequently with transient populations, and against those with less protections; it is imperative that we serve every survivor, and prevent as many instances as we possibly can. We pledge to strengthen prevention efforts, enhance responses to events, and create policies to ensure accountability and to provide options to undocumented people.

NYSCASA believes strongly that racism and sexual violence are interconnected. We also believe that if we are to realize a future free from sexual violence, that future must also be free from the barriers and violence associated with racism. NYSCASA views the decision to rescind DACA as racist and cruel. The rescinding of DACA will rob hundreds of thousands of young people of their futures while simultaneously ushering them into an unknown future with little security. People will be funneled into unregulated, understaffed, undertrained facilities in large numbers.

If you would like to get involved in defending DACA, please review action steps below shared by the United States of Women Team.

Here are ways that you can get loud in defense of DACA from our partner groups like United We Dream and The National Immigration Law Center:

Read about the impact of DACA: The law has allowed people to work and attend school without the constant fear of deportation. Read first-hand stories of DACA from the National Immigrant Law Center and share with family members and friends who may not understand or support the law.

If you’re a DACA recipient: click here for reliable information from United We Dream and the National Immigrant Law Center on your rights.